Defibrating-machine.



J. ST. 0. GILLIES.

DEFIBRATI NG MAG HI'NE. APPLIOATION PI'LED NOV. 29,1907

Pat'nted Oct. 12,1909.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

- J. s r. c. GILLIES.

DEFIBRATI'NG MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1 ov.29. 1907.

Patented Oct. 12, 1909.

10 SHEETS- SHBET 2.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J. ST. o.- GILLIE S. I DEFIBRATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1907.

Patented Oct. 12,1909.-

J. ST. G. GILLIES. DEFIBRATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION nun H0129} 1907.

Patpnted Oct. 12, 1909.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 4 QM 999m GH'O'L'HCUS witnesses J. ST. 0. GIL'LIESL DEFIBRATING MACHINE. APPLIUATION IILED M05129, 1907.

936,995. Patented Oct. 12 1909.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

wwmiioz J. ST. 0- GILLIES.

DEFIBRATING- MAGHINE.

APPLICATION mum NOV. 29. 190-1.

Patented Oct. 12,1909.

1o SHEETS-SHEET a.

612 Ez 6: l 64E O 1 Z V I -5 I i i i E ,17 6' G 9 e 9 O E e I 6 i W I 6'0 W :1 a l o In. 7,. Y a 744 J. s1. 0. GILLI ESI DEFIBRATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1907. 7 936,995. Patented Oct. 12,1909.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

. iii

HRH wows J. ST. G. GILLTES. DEFIBRATING MACHINE. APPLIGATYION @1 91) 1{0v.29. 1907.

Patented Oct. 12,1909.

10 SHEETS-SHEET J. ST. G. GILLIES.

DBFIBRATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 29. 1907.

Patented Oct. 12, 1909.

10 sums-sum 9.

5. ST. 6. GILLIES.

DEFIBRATING MACHINE.

' APPLIIOATION FILED NOV. 29. 1907.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ST. CLAIR GILLIES, F MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, ASSIGNOR ,TO PHILIPPINE HEMP MACHINE COMPANY, OF MANILA. PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, A CORPORATIONOF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed Npvember 29, 1907. Serial No. 404,402.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, JOHN S. GILLIES, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Manila, in the Island of Luzon, Philippine Islands, have invented certain new and use: ful Improvements in Defibrating-Machines;

' and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswillenable others skilled in j the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for removing the fiber from "plants of various kinds, and is more especially intended to provide a machine for removing the fiber from the abaca or hemp plant.

According to my invention, the leaves of the abaca are cut into strips, and two or more of these strips are connected to a carriage, which carriage is drawn along an endless belt with the segments of the plant lea-f trailing behind, and these segments are subjected to the scraping action'of a series of knives, which tend to scrape the pulpy matter from the fiber, and the partly cleaned fiber'is twisted into'strands, and. is passed through a series of'combs, as will be hereinafter more fully described.-

Myinvention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same. parts are indicated by the same letters throughout the several views.

Figures 1 and 1 show the entire machine in side elevation, parts being broken away.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the'guard at the front end of the machine. Fig. 2 is a detail, showin one of the combs detached from the machine. Fig. 3 is a plan view on a larger scale, of the rear end ofthe machme, parts being omitted for the. sake of clearne'ss broken line 77 of Fig. 6, and looking in.

the direction of the arrows. Fig. 8 is a detail showing in perspectiweone .of the holding jaws for holding the ,end of the segment of the leaf to be treated. Fig. '9 shows, on a larger scale, one of the pairs of knives and supporting blocks or tables, which together constitute the scraping mechanism, there being a'number of such pairs in the machine. Fig. 10 shows a section along the broken line 1010 of Fig. 9,'and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the scraping knives. Fig. 12 shows diagrammatically the mechanism for swinging the knives and tables to permit the passage of the carriage between the two, the knives and tables being shown in the closed or operative-position in this figure. Fig. 13 shows the apparatus of Fig. 12, except that the knives and tables are swung apart to permit the'passage of the carriage, which carriage is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 13. Fig. 14 shows on an enlarged scale, the roller'and comb arrangement shown at the upper, left-hand corner of Fig. 1. Fig. 15 shows a modification of the arrangement- I shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4, whereby a positive and quick movement of the scraping mechanism is effected. ThlS figure shows a unit'of the series of scraping mechanisms,

the others being precisely similar. Fig. 16 is a detail, showing a modified form of apparatus for arresting the twisting motion of the fiber holder located at' the rear end of the machine.

i The machine is preferably mounted upon a metal frame A, supported on the hinged supporting frame A. Running lengthwise of the frame are two tracks A and A each provided inv a portion'of its length with Patented Oct. 12, 1909.

rack teeth a. At the rear end of the machine,-the frame is extended upward as at Aft; and at each end of the main frame,

there is an end frame A. At the rear end of the machine, the lower track A is extended and curved as at a?, see Figs. 1 and 4. The upper track A? has a semi-circular extension a andthese two curved tracks a and a guide the carriage E as it passes from the lower track to the upper.

B represents the drive shaft, preferably located at the rear end of the machine, which is driven by tliepulley B, or in any other convenient way. This shaft is mounted in adjustable bearings B which may be moved forward or backward by means of the adjusting rods 6 and hand wheels b as -shown in' Figs'i and'3. the other-end.

efthe machine, a similarkshaft B is ari 'anged, mounted. in similar' bearingggs," and ad'usted in a' similar'wayplounted on the shaft B are two sprocket wheels C,'-. which carry between them' a :urved ,shell; C forming a drum, which is corrugated, and is rovided with channels 'g'." 3,-to gu1de th e trailing ends of thefiber', 'aswill be hereinafter described.

On the shaft-B9 at the other end of the ma.-

chineyare' two similar sprocketywhe'el's C'.

-Extending between the sprocket wheels C the other attachment; thusi astrong, but flexible connection-is provided'between the. hook and the chain. These hooks are used I [The carriage E's shown in det in Figs I 39 and C", are two .endlesssprocketchains D, which can be. kent taut by adjusting the bearings B ashereinbefore described. Each of these' sprocketchains carries a plurality offlhooks, which are preferably con- .nected tothe sprocket chain as'shown 1n L Fig. 4;, in which d represents, two. attachments,-carriedby two. adjoining'links of the' ch'aimfd represents a hook pivoted to one of: these attachmentskand d represents a combined linkand brace: tying the. hook to for dragging the carriage.

6 to' 8, and'it comprises a rectangular frame E 'connected to end plates 131, to which are j'ournaled the flanged wheels'E The car-- .riage isprov'ided with webs e-slotte'd as at etolrece1ve one of the hooks d2, andthe hookzis. held in place by the latch'e. at one of the plate which plate is pivoted as at ,-'e-{-to the carriage, and; is provided with :ii""downwa rdly extending curved arm a,

which is adapted to strike the tripping arm a carried near the front end of the upper track,a s shown in Fig.7, This arm (1 trips thepivoted" plate-E and releases the latch e, and thus allows the carriage tobe with: drawn from engagement with the chain. It

will be obvious that these arms a may bemade long enough to overlap and to be -actu- 'ated-fsimultaneously by a slngle tripping arm. This latch is normally held in the engagingposition by-means, of the spring e",

Figs.

I 5, 6 and 7,- which spring. yields WIien-Jthe wedge shaped point of the hook d is msertedin'the; recess in thelatch plate; rearward of the latch'e', and snaps the latch intd'engag'einent with the-notch of the hook ,whenthehook' has been shovedhome. Thus,

- itwill be seen'that the carriage may be sec'urelf'connected to the chain, and may be automatically released therefrom at. the end which; consists of two pivoted membersF and E, which are'pivoted. to the head F and'journaled on the Spl1'ld1F Thesetwo 1 pivoted members each consists oftwo gr1pping jawsf 'provided with cur-yeti gripping bearing, 18 provided.

=Theiplant segments are held in'a chuck F,

.surfaces 7, and these jaws are normally held together by the spring F, and are also connected togetherlby the link- F. These two members F"- and F have tail pieces f which are locked in the chuck head F by means of U shaped holding wires 7, which are pivoted in said head, and may be turned across or parallel with the said tail pieces f,- and thus may prevent the gripping jaws from swinging open, or may release same, as dBSII'Gd.

In order to insert the segment of the plant in the. gripping jaws, they may be swung open by pressure on the parts f, the locking wires 7* being out of engagement; or, by llii ftm on one of the tail. pieces 1', the link position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7.

.The two chucks .are driven by bevel gears F carried by the sleeves F, which sleeves have spline pins i projecting into the spline groove f in the spindle F. These brought on' the chuck, as in combing out the. fiber, and will thus furnish a yielding resistance to obstructions. to the travel of the carriage, incident to the treatment of the plant. The carriage also carries certain tripping rollers H and cams I, whose function will be hereinafterdescribed.

'K, see Figs. 1 and 1", represents a guard,

which is pivoted, as at k to the frame-work of theinachine, and has side members In passing over the rollers m, and is bent downward and projects upward in the path of the carriage, as, shown at is.

L re resents a pedal, which operates the rods L, connected to thecranks 'L on the shaft L which is jouifiiled transversely of the frame A, and is provided at its ends with cranks L connected to the side bars L, which barsrest on In s m, near the ends of the sidebars M, whic side bars M are connected at their lower ends to the cranks M, carried by the shafts M which shafts carry the abutment frames M carrylng bearing bars orabutmentsM see Figs. 5, 12 and 13. The side bars M are pivotedat their upper ends to the cranks M? on the shafts M which carry the. frames M for the knives. These abutmentframes 'Mf'and knife frames M are normally heldin the engaging position shown in Fig. 12, bycoil springs m and thean'gular motion of the frame M" 15 cause the other jaw to swing open, and the jaws may be thrown apart to the checked by the stop M, which preferably consistsof one ormore bars extending across the machine. (These bars, are shown with a curvedplate on one side thereof.)

It will be-seen that pressing down on the treadle I: will pull down on" theside bars L", which, acting on the-pins m, will rock the abutment frames MF, and the knife jM from the clbsedpositioir, shown in Fig; 12; to the open-position shown in Fig: 13. These parts-are held in the open position by means of latches N, which engage the notched .ends ofthe abutment frames MI, as shown in Fig. 13. The spring- 12." normally tends ,topress the latch N into the engaging position. Each latch N is loosely mounted on the shaft N, to which it is 'connected by the: coil spring n", which coil spring tendsto press the latch in the engaging position, as before stated.-

To-disenga-ge the latch, I provide arod N -connectedto an arm hi on. the shaft N, which: carries an arm X connected to the side rod N, which is-pivoted to the arm N on the shaft N The travelof this arm N 7 is-iiniited by the stop 12F. Theside rod N is provided with a roller n adapted to engage the cam I on the-carriage, see ig; 13', so that after the carriage passes any pair of; abutmentframes M and knife frames M", these are1'eleased,'and under the action of their springs m", swing upward from the open position shown in Fig. '13, to the-closed po-' sition. shown in Fig.12. This closin motion may be positively andrapidly e ected by the-automatic arrangement shown in Fig. 15, which will be hereinafter described.

The frames l. 9' carry the knives M and the abutment frames-l carry the bearing bars on abutments M against which the knives act, asshown in Figs. 9 to 11. The frames M-"-carry-a cross bar M, through which the;

rods m and m 'project, which rods are secured to the back of-the knives, as shown in Fig; 11, and thenormal distance of the edge of"the-knive from the bearing block, is adjusted by means, Of' lock nuts m on the rod m; Braces m are preferably providedf located between the cross bar M and the frames M. The knife is pressed toward the bearing block. by means of springs m? Limited play is permitted to the knife by having the screws in passing through slots 712. in the head of the knife, so that they holdthe knife in place, butpermit the same to yield upward. The bearing bar M connecting the sides. of abutment frames M is preferably protected by a replaceable-wear plate m-*, as shown in Flg. 10.

A hinged comb 0, having teeth 0, pro-' vided near the rear end of the machine, as

shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. This comb is P to the sha-ftP z which shaft ca-rrieszar'ms rocks the arms P and P about the shaft P? and rocks the arm P swinging the comb 0 .toward the forward end of;the machine, as

indicated by the arrow, thus getting the comb out of the way of the carriage. After the carriage has passed, the rollers H run off of the cam plates 39', and the coil springs P on the shaft P see Fig. 3, automatically restore the comb to the lnitial. or raised position shown in Figpl in which it will engage the fiber; The fiber is held in engagement with the comb, between the roller 1' carried by the bars R pivoted at r, and the roller 1' journaled on the frame-work. A, see Figs. 1 and 14. The front pair of wheels E of the carriage pass underthe bars R, and lift the roller r, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 14, thus permitting the passage of .the carriage between the rollers r and 1' Near the forward end of the machine, a comb O is provided, (see Figsll and 14) having teeth 0, which comb, mounted on' the shaft 0 is normally held in the engaging position by the coil spring 0. This comb also carries arms '0 ,=wh1ch come in contact .with the carriage E; thus, the carriage one end 9, and connected at the other ond to links Q which are ivoted to the arms Q on the shaft Q w ich shaft carries the curved arms Q pivoted to the cranks Q} on the shaft Q carrying the knife frames M. These cranks Q are connected by the links Q to the cranks Q on the shaft Ql carrving the tables M and thus, if the side bars Q are lifted by the rollersH. the knife frames M and the abutment frames M will be swung apart, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. After the rollers H pass clear of the cam plate Q, the knife frames M and the abutment frames M will be swung back to the closed position, shown. in full lines 'in Fig. 4, by means of the springs Q". see Fig. 3. Thus, the carriage passes each set of knives successively, and each knife is automatically returned to the engaging position after the carriage has passed.

In order to insure a quick and-positive return of the knives to the engaging position, an actuating device for the knife frames M and abutment framesM may be provided,

S adapted to engage one of the front rollersof the carriage shown in dotted'lines in Fig. 15. When this roller strikes the arm 8, it will rock the arm'S, and with it the shaft Q and will restore the knife frame M and the abutment frames M to the initial or closed position.

In order to automatically lock the chuck F from rotation-at the rear end of the machine while the fiber is being combed out, an angle iron T may be provided, having a facet adapted to simultaneously engage a pair of teeth 9 of the star wheel G as shown in Fig. 16, and while the pair of teeth are in engagement with this edge '25 of the .angle plate T, the wheel cannot revolve. The number of rack teeth a on the lower track A is so adjusted that the teeth 9 of the star Wheel Gr may pass ofi the rack and be locked by the angle plate T at the time when the strip or tape of fiber is horizontal, and

the rollers m will allow the guard]: to by gravity out of the way of the carriage,

thus the fiber may be drawn forward in fiat tape-like strips.

The operation of the deviceis as follows: A strip of fibrous material Z is inserted in one of the chucks F, and is held beneath the holding jaws by the convoluted surfaces f the left of ,Eig.- 1-. The carriage cannot be pressed forward as long as the guard k is inwthe raised position shown in Fig. 1, but by pressing on the treadle L, the first series of knives are opened, and the lowerin of drop and the carriage may be pushed forward and snapped on to a pair of hooks d of the moving chains D. These chains will then drag the carriage forward on the lower track D beneath the open knives, as soon as it passes the-first knife, the carriage will automatically release the first set of knife frames and abutments, .causing the two to swing together and engage the fibrous material. After .the carriage has passed the second knife, that'knife will also be thrown into action, and so on with the other knives. Each *knife will tend to squeeze more or less of water,-pulpy matter,etc., out of the plant,

.leaving the .fiber; and to prevent this fiber from being broken by the successive action ofthe knives, it" is twisted into strands by the chuck before being entirely. drawn through'all the knives of the first series, which windingis caused by the engagement of the star wheels'Gr with the rack teeth a. By twisting the fiber into a strand, and by easing the pressure on-the "chuck by the springs as already described, verylittle of the fiber is broken or lost. The springs back-of the knives will also yieldwhen the strain becomes excessive, thus affording another factor of safety against the breaking of the fiber. After reaching the rear end of the machine, the star wheel G2 runs off of the rack teeth a and the rotation of the chuck ceases, which rotation, or any reverse rotation, is positively stopped by means of the arrangementshown in Fig. 16. After the rotation ceases, the ribbon engages the, comb O and is combed out, and the loosened strand is drawn over the corrugated drum C The fiber is held in engagement with the comb by means of rollers r and 1, see Fig. 1. The carriage now passes between the curved tracks a and (L '8nd reaches the-upper track A where the carriage passes successivel beneath the knives in the frame A and eac knife is successively brought to play on the ribbon. After the carriage passes the last knife, the fiber is twisted into a strand, as before, by the engagement of thestar wheels the carriage reaches the front end of the machine'again, the carriage is detached by means of the tripping arm a"; and the attendant,.seizing the carriage, draws it beneath the bars R, causing the fiber to pass between the rollers '2' and. a", see Fig.1 and Fig. 14, and draws the said fiber through the teeth 0 of the comb O. The untreated part of the material, held in the jaws of the chuck, is now cut oil, thrown away, and the fiber is removed.

While I have shown the knives arranged in pairs across the machine, and have shown three sets of knives near each end of the machine, with one comb after each set of knives, it will be obvious that the number and arrangement of the knives and combs may be varied indefinitely.

It will be obvious that various modificati us might be made in the herein described asparatus, which could be used without depa ting from the spirit of nay-invention.

aving thus described my invention, what I claim and-desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States is:

1.'In a defibrating machine, the combination of a supporting frame, spring pressed knives for scraping the material under treatment, swinging abutments cooperati said knives, means for supportingand mov ing the material under treatment, automatic terial, means for opening a passe e between said knives and' their correspon abut with ments to permit the passage of the carriage, and means for positively restoring said knives and said abutments to their original position, substantially as described.

3. In a defibrating machine,.the combination of a supporting frame, a carriage mov- 4. In a defibrating machine, the combina-V tion of a sup orting frame, means adapted to hold the along said-frame, means for causing said carrying means .to. twist the 'fiber at the proper time, and a positive lock near the back end of the machine to prevent the operation of the twisting mean-s, substantially as described. j

In a defibrating machine, the combination of a supportingvframe, a carriage, provided with means forholding' the "material under treatment, arranged to travel along said f1 ame, a series of spring pressed knives and. swinging abutments cooperating therewith, arranged at each endof the machine, said knives and arbutments'being adapted to be separated fronreach other to permit the passage of the carriage, substantially as described. l v f 6. In a defibrating machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a carriage arranged to traveLalong said frame and provided with means for holding the material under treatment, automatic means for twisting. said material, a plurality of spring pressed knives arranged to scrape the ma-- terial, a. swinging abutment corresponding to each knife and cooperating therewith,

means for moving each knife and its corresponding abutment. away from each vother to permit the passage. of the carriage, and means for bringing said knives into operative relation to their corresponding abutments after the carriage has passed, substantially as described.

7 In a defibrating machine, the combination of rt-supporting frame, a carriage ar-- ranged to travel along said frame and provided with means for holding the material under treatment, automatic means for twist i'ngsaid material, a series of spring pressed scraping knives, a swinging abutment correspondnig to eachscraplng knife, means for swinging said, knives and their correspbnd-,

ing abutmentsaway from each other to permit the passage of the carr age, and means for restoring said knives and. abutments to- -their original position, so. that the knives will act upon. the material under treatment,

her and arranged to travel after the carriage has passed,. substantially as describe 8. In a defibrating machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a carria e arranged to travel along said frame an provided with means for holding the material under treatment, automatic means for twisting said material, a series of spring pressed scraping knives, a swinging abutment corresponding to each scrapingknife, means for swinging said knives and their corresponding abutments away from each other topermit the passage of the carriage, and means for automatically and positively restoring said knives and said abutments to their original position after the carriage has passed, substantially as described.

- 9. In a defibratingmachine, the combina tion of a supporting frame, a carriage adapted to travel along said frame and provided withmeans for holding the material under treatment, a plurality of scraping knives, a swinging abutment coeperating with each knife, means for swinging said knives and abutments away from each other to permit the passage of the carriage, means for temporari-ly locking sa'id knives and abutments in their separated position to permit 1 the passage of the carriage, and devices for re-I leasing said locking means after the passage of the carriage, substantially as described. 10; In a defibrating machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a carriage adapted to travel alongsaid frame and provided with devices for holding the material under e treatment, automatic means for twisting -sa-1d material, a series of knives, a swinging abutment cooperating with each knife,

means for swinging said knives and their correspbnding abutments away from each other to permit the passage of the carriage, means for locking said abutments and knives intheir separated position, and means for releasing saidlocking means, said last named means being operated'by the travel of the carriage along the frame, substantially as described.

11 In a defibrating machine, thecombination of a su porting frame, a carriage adapted to travel alongsaid frame and provided with devices for holding the material under treatment, a scraping knife, an abutment cooperating with said knife, said knife and abutment being .pivotally supported, connections between the i-votal supports of said knifeand saida utment, means for swinging saidabutment and said knife away from eachother to permit the passa e of the carriage, means for locking said almtment andsaid knife in their separated position,

and means operated by the movement of the caa'riage for releasingsaid locking means,

substantiall as described,

.12. Ina c efibratmg machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a carriage arrangedto travel along said frame and prol tion of a supporting frame, a carriage a1-- vided with devices for holding the material under treatment, automatic means for twist'-.

ing said material, a pivotally mounted knife, a pivotally mountedabutment cooperating therewith, connections between said knife :and said abutment, means for-swinging said knife and said" abutment away from each other to permit the passage ofthe carriage thereb'etween, locking devices arranged to hold said abutment,- and said knife out of I the path of said carriage, and means operated by the carriage-in its forward movement torelease said locking means after the carriage has passed between said knife and I said abutment, substantially as described.

13. In a defibrating machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a carriage arranged to travel along said frame and pro- -,-vided with ilevicesfor holding the material. under treatment, a pivotally mounted knife,

a 'pivotally mounted abutment cooperating therewith, connections between said knife and said abutment, means for swinging said knife and said abutment away from each other-to permit the passage of the carriage therebetweeinloeking devices arranged tohold said knife out of-the path of said carriage,

' means operated'by the carriage 'in its for- Ward movement to release said locking means after thecarriag'e has passed between said knife and said'abutment, and means for returning saith-knife and said-abutment to their original position after the carriage has passed,;substanti ally as described. i 14. In a defibrating machine, the combina tion of a supporting frame, a carriage arranged to travel on said frame and provided with means for holding the material under treatment," a pivotally mounted knife, a

pivotally mounted abutment coliperating therewith, devices for swinging said knife and said abutment awayfrom each other to iennitthe-passage of the carriage therebetween, and means preventing the insertion of the carriage into the frame of the machine before said knife and said abutment have been moved away from each other, substantially as described.

15. In a defibrating machine, the combinationof a supporting frame, a carriage arranged to travel on sand frame and provided with means for holding the material under treatment, automatic means'for twisting said material-,a pivotally mounted knife, a pivotally mounted abutment cooperating therewith, devices for swinging said knife and said'abutment away from each other to per mit the passage of the carriagetherbetwee n;

and a guard preventing the insertion of the --carria ge into the frame of the machine before said knife anfhabutment have been moved away from each other, substantially as described.

l6. Ina defibratifg' machine, he combine:

ranged to travel on said frame and provided with means for holding the material under treatment, apivotally mounted knife, a pivotally mounted abutment cooperating therewith, devices for swinging said knifeand mit the passageof the carriage therebetween, a guard pivoted on the frame of the machine and preventingcthe insertion'of the carriage into the frame of the machine before said knife andabutment have been moved away from each other, and means for returning said knife and abutment to their original position, substantially as described.

17. .In a defibrating machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a carria e arranged to travel thereon and provided with devices for holding the material under treatment, a pivotally 'mounted knife, a pivotally mounted abutment coiiperating therewith, means for swinging said knife and said abutment away from each other to permit the passage of the carriage therebetween, and a guard pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine and having a portion normally projecting in the path of travel of said carriage, said guard being supported upon the means for swingingthe knife and the abutment cooperating therewith, so that said carriage cannot be inserted into the machine until said knife and said abutment have been moved away from each other, thereby permitting the guard to be moved out of the path of travel of the carriage, substantially as described' 18. In a defibrating machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a carriage arranged to travel thereon and provided with devices for holding the material under treatment, a plurality of pivotally mounted knives, a plurality ,of pivotally mounted abutments cooperating therewith, means for swinging said knives and said abutments away from each other to permit the passage said abutment away from each other to perof the carriage therebetween, a guard pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine and having a portion normally projecting in the path of travel of said carriage, said guard being supported upon the'means for swinging the knives and the abutments cooperating therewith, so that said carriage "cannot be inserted into the machine until 'said knives and said abutments have been moved away from each other, thereby permitting the guard to be moved out of the path of travel of-the carriage, substantially as described. l

19. In a defibrating machine, the combination of' a supporting frame, a carria 'e arranged to travel along said frame and providedwith means for holding the material. under treatment and .a cam, a knife and a swinging abutment coiiperating therewith, ieans.for mov1ng sand knife and sa d abutlnent away from each other to permit the passage of the carriage therebetween, locking devices for holding sa d table and said knife away from each other, and means for releasing said lockin devices, Said releasing means being operator. by the cam on the carriage as it travels along theframe,substantially as described.

20. In a defibrating machine,'the combina tion of a supporting frame, a carriage adapted to move along said frame andcarrying the material under. treatment, automatic means for twisting said material, 'a knife adapted to scrape. the material under treatment, aswinging abutment cooperating with said knife, means .for .moving said knife and saidabutment away from each other to permit the passageof the carriage therebetween, means for returning said knife and said abutment to their original position, and a stop for preventing said knife and abutment from moving too far in the return movement, substantially as described.

21. In a defibrating machine, the'combination of a supporting frame, acarriage adapt-- ed .totravel along said frame and canrying the material under treatment, automatic means for twisting saidmaterial, a scraping knife, a swin 'ing abutment frame, an abut-' ment carried by said frame and cooperating :with said knife and provided with a notched portion, means for swinging said knife. and

said abutment away from each other to perm'it the passage of the carriage'therebetween,

' ed to travel therealong and to carry the m aterm] under treatment, a pivotally mountedknife. a 'pivotallymounted abutment frame ca1.'r ving anabutment engaging said knife, connections between said knife and said abutwent. frame. means for si'vin'gin'gsaid abutment frame and said knife away from each other -to permit the passageof the ca rriage therebetween, a latch for engaging said abutment franiemnd holdinfi said knife and said table in their separatedposition, means" for disengaging. said latch em said abut-- ment frame, and a stop-lmntmg; the move-I ment of said disengaging means in one direc' tion, substantially described.

In a defibrating machine, the combination of a supporting frame, acarria ge adapt-J ed to travel therealong and to carry the ma.-

te-rial under treatment, said carriage being provided with at cam, a knife for scraping the material, a swinging abutment cooperating with said knife, means for moving said abut ment and said knife away from each other to permit the passage of the carriage thorebetween, a latch for holding said abutment and said knife in their separated position, and means for releasing said latch, said means including a5 roller adapted to be struck by the cam on said carriage, substantially as described. p

24. In a 'defibrating machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a carriage adapted to travel therealong and carry the material under treatment, a pivotally mounted knife for scraping the material, a pivotally mounted abutment cobper'ating with said knife ivotal'connections between said knife and seid abutment,'means for swinging said knife and said abutment away from each other to permit the passage of the carriage therebetween, and means for restoring said knife and said abutment to their initial position after the passage of the carriage therebetween, substantially as described.

25. In a defibrating machine, the combi- .'nation of a supportingl'frame, a carriage adapted to travel therealong and provided with means forholding the material under treatment, automatic means for twisting said material, a pivotallyinounted knife, a pivotally mounted abutment cooperating therewith, connections between said knife and said abutment, means for moving said "abutment and said knife away from each other, and means for positively returning said knife and said abutment to their original position after the passage of the carriage, substantially as described.

26. In adefibratingmachine, the combination of a supporting frame, a carriage adapted to travel therealong provided with means for holding the material under treatment, automatic means for twisting said material, a spring pressed knife, a swinging abutment coiiperating therewith, means for moving said knife and said abutment away fromeach other to permit the passage of the carriage therebetween, and automatic'means for returning said knife and said abutment to their original position said means including an operating spring, substantially as described.

27. Inadefibrating machii'ie, the combination of asupportmg frame, a carriage adapted to travel therealong and carry the Ind and said abutment to their initial position,-

' ment to their initial position after the passage of the carriage, substantially as de scribed.

29. In a defibrating machine, the combi nation of a supporting frame, a carriage adapted to travel therea'long and carry the material under treatment, said carriage being provided with projecting rollers, a movable knife, an abutment cooperating therewith, means for moving-said knife and said abutment away from each other to permit the passage of the carriage therebetween, and means for positively restoring said knife and said abutment to their original position, said means including an arm adapted to be struck by the rollers on said .carriage, substantially as described.

30. Inv a defibrating machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a carriage adapted-to travel there-along and carry the material under treatment, said carriage being provided with projectin scraping knife, a swinging a utment 00-.

. operating therewith, means for moving said abutment and said-knife away from each other to permit the passageof the carriage arm and said knife andabut-ment, substantially. as described.

31. In a'defibratin machine,, the'combination of a supporting frame, a carriage adapted to travel therealong and carry the mate rial -under treatment, said carriage being provided with p'rojectingrollers, a pivoted knife, a pivoted abutment cooperating therewith, means for moving said knife and said abutment away from each other to permit the passage of the carriage therebetween and to positivelyreturn said knife and said abutment to their initialposition after the carriage has passed, said means includin a pivoted arm providedwith a cam adapte to be, struck by the rollers on said carriage,

connections between said arm and said knife,

connections between said knife and said abutment, a pivoted arm adapted to be struck by said rollers after said carriage haspassed between the knife-and .the abutment, and

rollers, a'

connections between said arm and said knife,

the passage of the carriage therebetween and to positively return said knife and said abutment to their initial position after the carriage has passed, said means including a pivoted arm provided with a cam adapted to be struck by the rollers on said carriage, connections between said arm and said knife, connections between said knife and said abutment, a pix oted arm adapted to be struck by said rollers after said carriage has passed between the knife and the abutment, connections between said arm and said knife, and a spring acting to return said knife and said abutment to their initial position,

- substantially as described.

rving hooks, a carriage adapted to move along said frame and provided with springactuated latches engaging said hooks, and disenga ing means for said latches mounted on the ra-me, substantially as described.

35. In a defibrating machine, the combination-of a supporting frame, tracks thereon, sprocket wheels and chains, the latter being provided with hooks, a carriage adapted to travel on said tracks and provided with spring-actuated latches for engaging said hooks, said latches being provided with extending arms, and disengagingmeans carried on the frame of the machine for striking said arms, whereby said latches are released at the proper time, substantially as described.

36. In a defibrating machine, the combination of a sup orting frame, a track thereon I and a carriage adapted to travel on said track, said carriage being provided with supporting Wheels, projecting rollers, cams,

' means for holding the material under treatment, and devices for rotating said holding means, substantially as described.

37. In a defibrating machine, a carriage for holding the material under treatment including a supporting frame, wheels, rollers and cams thereon," CltllllPlllg jaws for holding the material, gearing, and sprocket wheels for rotating said jaws, substantially as described.

38. In a defibrating;. machine, a carriage for holding the mateii'ial under treatment, in cluding a frame, wheels, cams and rollers mounted thereon, a spindle carrying clamping jaws for holding the material under treatment, means for rotating said spindle, and resilientrneans allowing said spindle to yield when unusual strain is brought upon the material under treatment, substantially as described.

39. In a defibrating machine, a carriage for holding the material under treatment, including a frame, wheels, cams and rollers mounted thereon, gripping jaws for-the materialunder treatment, a rotatable spindle on which said jaws are mounted, means for rotating said spindle, and a spring for,

normally holding said jaws closed, substantially as described.

a0. In a defibrating machine, a carriage for holding the material under treatment, including a frame, wheels, rollers and cams mounted thereon, a spindle slidably mounted on said frame, means for rotating said spindle, a spring surrounding said spindle and allowing it to yield when unusual strain is brought upon the material under treatment, a pair of pivoted gripping jaws pivotally mounted on said spindle, a spring for normally holdingsaid jaws closed, and additional means for preventing said jaws from opening, substantially as described.

41. In a defibrating machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a track provided with teeth mounted thereon, a carriage adapted to travel on said track and having toothed wheels adapted to engage said teeth,

gripping jaws carried by said carriage,

gearing for rotating said jaws bythe movement of said sprocketwheels as the-carriage advances, and meanslocated near the discharge end of the machine for locking sald wheels against rotation, thereby preventing further twisting or untwisting of the fiber strand, substantially as described.

42. In a defibrating machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a toothed trackcarried thereby, a; carriage adapted to travel on said track and provided with toothed wheels engaging said teeth, a rotatable chuck carried by said carriage gearing adapted to cause the rotation of said chuck by the rotation of said sprocket wheels, and a curved plate at the end of the machine so arranged as to engage two adjacent teeth of the sprocket wheels, thereby preyenting the rotation of said wheels, substantially as described.

4:3. In.a defibrating machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a toothed track carried thereby, a carriage'adapted to travel on said track and provided with adapted to cause the rotation of said chuck.

by the rotation of said sprocket wheels, and a curved plate at the end of the machine so arranged as to engage two adjacentteeth of the sprocket wheels, thereby preventing the rotation of said wheels, and a comb, whereby the flat portion of the fiber strand next to the chuck is presented in a horizontal direction to the teeth of the comb, substantially as described.

4. In a defibrating machine, the combination of a main frame, shafts mounted therein, a corrugated drum mounted on each shaft, adjustable bearings for said shafts, sprocket wheels mounted on said shafts, sprocket chains connecting said sprocket wheels and a carriage adapted to be moved along the frame of the machine, said sprocket chains carrying means for engaging said carriage, substantially as described.

'45. In a defibrating machine, the combination of a supporting frame, bearings adjustably mounted on said frame, shafts mounted in said bearings, a corrugated drum mounted on each' shaft, sprocket wheels mounted on said shaft outside of said drum, sprocket chains connecting said sprocket wheels, and a carriage provided with means for holding the material under treatment and adapted to travel along the frame, and hooks carried by said sprocket chains for engaging saidcarriage, substantially as described;

46, In a defibrating machine, the combination of a supporting frame, bearings adjust ably mounted on said frame, shafts mounted in said bearings, a corrugated drum mounted on each shaft, sprocket wheels mounted on said shaft outside of said drum, sprocket chains connecting said sprocket wheels, and a carriage rovided with means for holding the materia l travel along the frame, hooks carried by said sprocket chains for engaging said carriage, and means on the frame for disengaging said hooks from said carriage, substantially as described.

47. In a defibrating machine, the'comloination of a supporting frame, adjustable bearings thereon, shafts, each provided with, a corrugated drum and with sprocket wheels mounted thereon, sprocket chains connecting said Wheels and provided with hooks'and a carriage adapted to be engaged by said hooks and provided with means for holding the material under treatment, and rollers for guiding the material under treatment supported by the frame of the machine, substantially as described.

-48. In a defibrating machine, the combination of a supporting frame, shafts mounted 'the r'ein, each shaft being providedwith a corrugated drum and with two sprocket under treatment and adapted to wheels near the ends of said drum, respectively,

sprocket chains connecting the sprocket wheels'onthe opposite shafts, and

a carriageadapted to travel along the frame, means carried by said sprocket chains for- "10 i tionof-a supportingframe, shafts carried thereby, eachlshaft being provided with a 49. In adefibrating machine, the combinacorrugated drum and a sprocket Wheel at I each-end of said drum',sproc ket chains c011 necting the sprocketwheels on the opposite shafts and provided with hooks, a carriage provided with means forholding the material under treatment and adapted to be engaged by said hooks, and sets of guide rollers supported by the frame of the machine, and a pivoted supporting armfor one rollerof each set, whereby said carriage may pass between said guide rollers, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses. JOHN ST. CLAIR GILLIES.

Witnesses: I

Moses ELY, CHARLES TULLY. 

